Unknown PYMNTS
Karen Webster is a renowned expert in the field of payments and innovation, serving as a strategic advisor to CEOs and Boards of multinational companies in the payments and commerce space. As the CEO of Market Platform Dynamics, she works with innovative players in various sectors to identify and monetize innovation. Karen also serves on the board for several emerging companies, helping them develop and implement business strategies that drive market adoption for their products and services. She is also an entrepreneur, having successfully launched several ventures in loyalty, online media, and social networking sectors. One of her notable ventures includes PYMNTS.com, a leading media property focused on innovation in the payments sector. Karen is a frequent keynote speaker and author of numerous articles on various topics related to her expertise. She has a long history of consulting, having served as the Managing Director of Global Marketing and Planning for PricewaterhouseCoopers' US$6 billion management consulting practice and as COO for a US$200 million consulting subsidiary. Karen is also an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, where she holds a Masters Degree in Marketing. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Karen is a passionate philanthropist, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Chairman of the Board of the Susan G. Komen Advocacy Alliance.
93%
The Daily's Verdict
This author is known for its high journalistic standards. The author strives to maintain neutrality and transparency in its reporting, and avoids conflicts of interest. The author has a reputation for accuracy and rarely gets contradicted on major discrepancies in its reporting.
Bias
100%
Examples:
- The articles provided do not contain any instances of bias.
Conflicts of Interest
100%
Examples:
- There are no instances of conflicts of interest found in the articles.
Contradictions
85%
Examples:
- Some figures mentioned in the articles were contradicted by other sources.
- There are minor contradictions found in some of the articles, such as consumer confidence index rising modestly, while unemployment rate ticked up.
Deceptions
80%
Examples:
- Some articles contain deceptive practices such as using sensationalist language to grab attention.
- Some information presented in the articles may be misleading or not fully accurate.
Recent Articles
Mixed Signals in US Consumer Confidence: Optimism Amid Economic Uncertainty and Inflation Concerns in July 2024
Broke On: Tuesday, 30 July 2024US consumer confidence showed mixed signs of improvement in July 2024, with Americans expressing optimism and concerns about current economic conditions. Despite a slight increase in overall confidence, consumers were less positive about labor and business conditions due to inflation worries and economic uncertainty. Lower-income consumers, who spend a significant portion of their income on basic needs, are particularly vulnerable to price increases and contribute to overall economic uncertainty. 
Eleven Major US Banks Identified with Inadequate Operational Risk Management by OCC: Cyber Attacks, Employee Errors, and Natural Disasters among Concerns
Broke On: Sunday, 21 July 2024Eleven major US banks, as per the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), have been identified with insufficient or weak management of operational risk. Operational risk includes cyber attacks, employee errors, legal troubles, natural disasters and technology issues. The OCC's downgrading of these banks' CAMELS rating can lead to increased deposit insurance premiums, audits and restrictions on activities. 
Netflix Discontinues Basic Ad-Free Subscription Plan: Users Must Upgrade by July 13, 2023
Broke On: Tuesday, 02 July 2024Netflix is discontinuing its Basic ad-free subscription plan for existing users, effective July 13, 2023. Users must upgrade to a new plan: $5.99 ad-supported, $15.49 ad-free, or $22.99 4K premium. Netflix began phasing out the Basic option last year in some regions and hiked prices for those still subscribed. 
Urgent Call from Democratic Senators: Major Investors and Banking Partners of Synapse Urged to Restore Access to Frozen Deposits Following Bankruptcy Filing
Broke On: Tuesday, 02 July 2024A group of Democratic Senators is urging major investors and banking partners of Synapse to collectively pool resources to restore access to frozen deposits for over 100,000 customers following the fintech firm's bankruptcy. The senators criticize these entities for profiting from Synapse's services without ensuring consumer protection. 
Apple's Shift to AI: Monetizing Subscriptions and Partnerships
Broke On: Monday, 01 July 2024Apple shifts focus to software and AI for growth, plans monetization through subscriptions or fees based on reports. Discussions with partners like Meta and OpenAI hint at paid features beyond free integrations. 
FedEx Evaluating Potential Spin-off of Freight Unit Amidst Strong Earnings and Industry Shifts
Broke On: Tuesday, 25 June 2024FedEx, a leading delivery and logistics company, is considering significant changes to its business structure, including the potential sale or spin-off of its profitable Freight unit worth $50 billion. The move comes after FedEx reported strong earnings for Q4 2023 and amidst ongoing cost-cutting measures aiming to save $4 billion by 2025. Competitors UPS and Old Dominion Freight Line have also made sector moves, with UPS selling its trucking business and freight brokerage business, while Old Dominion had a market cap of $38.7 billion as of Wednesday. 
Apple and Meta in Talks: A Potential Game-Changer in AI Collaboration
Broke On: Sunday, 23 June 2024Apple and Meta are reportedly in talks to partner on AI, which could see Meta's advanced technology integrated into Apple's digital assistant Siri and other products. The potential collaboration comes as Apple seeks to enhance its AI capabilities and catch up with competitors. Sources suggest that Apple has also held talks with other AI companies, and a successful partnership could generate significant revenue. Citigroup's Money-Moving Business: A Reliable Source of Profit and Global Reach with Risks
Broke On: Monday, 17 June 2024Citigroup, a global financial services company, highlights its money-moving services division as a key focus for profitability. Accounting for nearly half of Citigroup's profits in the last quarter, this division manages and moves cash globally for major clients like Amazon, Uber, and the US government. The business handles payments processing and capital flows while benefiting from higher interest rates. With an extensive network integrated with foreign-exchange teams, Citigroup showcases its competitive advantage during an investor day on June 18. 
21% of Consumers Struggled to Pay Bills in Summer 2023: PYMNTS Intelligence Report
Broke On: Friday, 07 June 2024In the summer of 2023, over one in five consumers struggled to meet their financial obligations, with low-income individuals experiencing a significant increase. According to PYMNTS Intelligence, 34% of low-income consumers faced bill payment challenges compared to 31% the previous year. Even high-income consumers saw an uptick in struggles, with 13% reporting difficulties compared to 9% in 2022. 
Apple's New Passwords App: Simplifying Login Processes with Secure Password Generation and Storage at WWDC 2023
Broke On: Friday, 07 June 2024Apple to unveil new password management app 'Passwords' at WWDC 2023, generating complex passwords, importing from rivals, and offering biometric authentication for secure storage.
